Noel Whelan has claimed that Dejan Kulusevski has stepped up his game due to the arrival of Richarlison to Tottenham over the summer.
Richarlison is the most expensive of Tottenham’s six summer signing so far, with the North London club paying an initial £50m to Everton for the Brazilian, which could rise to £60m including add-ons (Sky Sports).
The former Everton man was suspended for Spurs’ Premier League opener against Southampton, with Antonio Conte starting with a familiar front line of Harry Kane, Son Heung-min and Kulusevski.
It was the Swede who was the star of the show as he set up Ryan Sessegnon’s opener with a pin-point cross to the far post in the first half before rounding off the home side’s scoring scoring with an arrowed finish into the bottom corner in the second half.
Whelan believes that Richarlison’s arrival could be the reason behind Kulusevski’s inspired display as the 22-year-old now knows he has competition for his place in the starting eleven.
The former Leeds striker told Football Insider: “Competition for places is healthy at any club. But when you’ve got the front three that Tottenham have, plus Richarlison sitting on the sidelines – it’s going to make these players work even harder and play even better.
“Kulusevski will know that if he’s not playing to Conte’s standards, he’s not afraid to make the change. He could be out of the side for weeks and weeks.
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“They’ve shown this intent in the market, and that’s what the fans wanted. They’ve matched the other big sides by going and getting this new forward. It’s such a strong start from Kulusevski, and it looks like he’s starting this season even better than he finished the last.”
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If there was any doubts at all over Kulusevski’s place in the side (which there should not have been on the back of his performances last season), he certainly put that to rest with his display on Saturday.
The Swede’s attributes compliment that of Kane and Son very well, and I believe that Spurs now arguably have the best front three in world football.
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